Means for instructing beginners in roller-skating



(No Model.)

B. A. JOHNSTON.

MEANS FOR 'INSTRUGTING BEGINNBRS'IN ROLLER SKATING.

No. 330,493.- Patented Nov. 17. 1885.

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' SINITED STATES PATENT. FFICE.

ROBERT A. JOHNSTON, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR INSTRUCTING BEGINNERS IN ROLLER-SKATING $PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,493, dated November 17, 1885.

Application filed March 19, 1885. Serial No. 159,453. (No model.)

To all? whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. JOHNSTON a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Means for Instructing Beginners in Roller'Skating, of which the following is specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to an improvement in the means of instructing beginners in rollerskating; and it consists in the combination of a suspended track, wheels which run upon the track, a frame carried by the wheels, a

cylinder which is secured to the frame, and a spring-actuated support for the skater, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

It now is customary, and perhaps necessary, to employ teachers at the skating-rinks to instruct beginners in the art of skating. To avoid many inconveniences and the cost connected with this mode of instructing, I have invented an automatic guide that in the hands of beginners will not only uphold them, but at the same time assist in safely moving forward until the necessary skill is acquired to skate without assistance.

The accompanying drawing represents my invention.

A represents a narrow track with or without flanges a at its sides. The track a is suspended from the joists or ceiling by rods 9, that pass through its middle and are properly secured on top and underneath the track, leaving an unobstructed passage at both sides of the rods. By this means the track may be suspended at any height to be out of the way of persons skating in the rink. The track may be made in any part of the rink, either continuous in the form of an oval or a circle, or in a straight line. On the track near the edges I place wheels B, journaled in a frame, 0. The frame consists of a solid bar, d, bent up at right anles at the sides of the track, and above the height of the wheels B is bent over them inwardly and then downwardly,the ends reaching below the centers of the wheels. The Wheels, of which one is journaled in the frame at each side, rest upon the track and run near its edges held in place by the frame. bar at of the frame C under the track is fastened a cylinder, D, of suitable length, that holds a spiral spring, h, with a movable plate, f, on top of it. To the center of the plate f is attached a cord, 01., or a short rod to which the cord is fastened, that vertically passes downward through the spiral spring and terminates in a tassel, ring, or belt at a height from the floor to be within reach of persons standing underneath. If the cord be pulled down, it only descends as far as the length of the cylinder allows, and then becomes a solid support to the person holding onto it. Instead of :1 cylinder inclosing the spring, other devices pro ducing the same effect may be employed.

Persons desirous to learn to skate on rollers, but fearing to fall to the ground, have only to seize firmly the end of the cord at to find a safe support, and soon to be enabled to make the required strides for a forward motion. The support thus extended to beginners soon emboldens them to rely on themselves, cast aside the supporting cord, and thereby dispense with the instruction of teachers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The cylinder D, with spiral spring h, plate f, cord at, and rod 61 of the frame 0, combined.

2. As a support for skaters on rollers, a device consisting of the frame 0, wheels B, cyl- To the M inder D, with spring h, and cord a, combined and arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

LOUIS, MOESER, IG STAUFFER. 

